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2005 Best Of Winners

Discover Mid-America — February 2005

Buying and selling

One of the oldest publications for antiquers published in the United States is Antique Trader. It has evolved over the years, but old timers still find this weekly always has information that is valuable..

In those articles about auctions, sales and Internet trade, the consensus from the articles —and ones in other antique—related publications —is that “the best quality” is still selling strong. In all that has been written about the antique trade, the saying has always been: “Buy the best you can afford” This guiding statement still holds up.

The big auction houses on the East and West coasts will quote the pre-sale estimate and in only a few cases does the actual sale price stay that low. Goods of high quality, fresh to the marketplace, are bringing fantastic prices and the buyers are paying a premium as well. This indicates that there is money out there, that there are still some good things coming from private sources, and that young homeowners are still looking for wonderful period pieces to have and to hold.

With a new season coming on, estates going under the hammer, empty nesters downsizing and job transfers, there will be fresh antiques (Is that an oxymoron?) on the market. A wise buyer will always know to look for certain things.

We all know that handling an item is the best way to know if that antique is what the description says it is. There is never an Antiques Roadshow that the Leno brothers do not take out drawers, look underneath, check the sides, and the bottom of furniture and drawers to verify their thinking. I do admire their expertise as they tell owners what kind of wood, who the marker probably was, the original locationÉand the things that are so beloved to the antique owner/collector.

Internet buying and selling has made for a great movement of goods. Early on, I became disenchanted with the Internet after buying on the “well-known site” as the sellers did not give good information about the items they were selling. Some were real bummers!

Such obstacles to online purchasing leave vendors with very good sales, and auctions are showing that serious buyers are running prices way up to get good, fresh-to-the-market antiques.

As a seller, one has many ways to find the right venue. Local auctions that are well attended are the easiest way. But if the item is high-dollar, the Internet can provide names of auction houses. There are many trade papers available with ads from all over the U.S. There are some auction houses that are particularly well known in certain areas; others specialize, such as Theriaults for dolls and Peretti for Coca Cola. If you have a collection of particular interest, it is most important for you to look for the auction house that will do the best for you with that collection of antiques. A good reputation will pay off for the seller and buyer, and enhance the auction houseÕs record.

But caution: Do your homework whether buying or selling, and remember the old saying Caveat Emptor —may the buyer beware! It's always your job to study the situation or the antique.

Norma Crews is a native Texan, graduate of Texas Tech, former teacher and rancher, mother of three grown sons and six grandchildren, and raised in South Texas on a ranch as a member of two pioneer families.

Upon retiring from teaching and ranching, she and her husband James became pickers for large Texas shops, before branching into doing shows for a number of years in Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. She currently resides in Neosho, MO.

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